Appletell

I’ve never really used Yahoo! Messenger other than when I was probably 10 and wanted to play those cheap Shockwave (where did that go?) games with friends. However, the web giant is pushing their new Mac client, most noticeably in the UI field, where Yahoo! typically seems to care the least.

The third beta of the messaging client brings new features and new looks to compliment, giving an even balance of form and functionality. The biggest new feature is making free Skype-like computer to computer calls, but that’s not all. Right along with that, the client allows the user to call landline, mobile, and any other sort of phone using Yahoo!‘s Phone Out service. That’s right, Yahoo! just combined killer messaging and VoIP into one. It doesn’t end there, though. Why call a phone when you can text mobile phones as well? That’s right, they’ve tossed mobile texting in the basket as well. And if you weren’t excited enough, you can even receive calls using a Yahoo! Phone In account.

You may be saying to yourself “Holy crap, I’m an idiot for ignoring Yahoo! and their new client!“ And, my friend, you are, as it is truly a killer. Yahoo! is trying their best to match their Windows and Mac clients, which have been very different for many years. The company, however, now seems to realize that the Mac user base is growing, and that more of their users are switching over. Our friends at TUAW have put together a nice gallery, so check it out, and give the beta a spin.

[Yahoo! Messenger Beta] Via [TUAW]

• Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang announces resignation
• Live.com goes social
• First look: TeleNav Shotgun

For those of you out there who haven’t heard of Mailplane, don’t feel bad because not many others have either. Mailplane is a, currently unreleased, Gmail client for your desktop. Mailplane is a fully functional app that integrates with your Gmail or Google Apps email account. It allows you to read, compose, and do basically anything you could do with Gmail in your browser, but on your desktop in a standalone app.

The latest update (1.46) now allows you to access multiple Gmail accounts simply by double-clicking the name in the account drawer. This release also features a menubar notifier, similar to that of the google notifier, that allows you to easily overview new mail in your multiple accounts as well as choose the email inbox you’d like to read. Mailplane is still in private beta, but you can apply for the beta here.

Read [Mailplane Blog]

• Blackberry and MySpace release app
• Make Android more like iPhone visual voicemail
• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.14.08 edition